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Barack Obama And The Dos Equis Man Are Now Friends, And People Love It

Jonathan Goldsmith, aka “The World’s Most Interesting Man” from the Dos Equis commercials, just got even more interesting.

In his memoir, Stay Interesting: I Don’t Always Tell Stories About My Life, But When I Do They’re True and Amazing, the actor gives his reader a glimpse into his world. One that includes a friendship with former president Barack Obama.

In an excerpt from the memoir published by Politico, Goldsmith talks about his struggles early on as an actor in Hollywood, and how he eventually left Tinseltown in his 50s, even starting a multimillion-dollar marketing company.

When that company eventually went under, Goldsmith, now in his late 60s, headed back to Hollywood, eventually scoring the commercial role that would come to define him.

Despite run-ins with Michael Jordan, Leonardo DiCaprio, and Jennifer Lawrence, his unlikely friendship with Obama was a “dream,” according to Goldsmith. The two met in Vermont during Obama’s reelection campaign, when Goldsmith was part of a welcoming committee. He writes:

“He was just starting his second run for the presidency, and we were invited to be in a greeting line of about 200 people. Barbara, my agent who is now my wife, was right when she predicted he would recognize me. Obama is a huge sports fan, especially the NBA. At the time, the Dos Equis commercials were all over ESPN. Our 10-second photo-op turned into a several-minute conversation.”

That friendship blossomed when Goldsmith was invited to be a surprise guest at Obama’s 50th birthday celebration. The two talked for a long time, even getting to a first-name basis with one another. And thus, a friendship was forged.